Book holder



Nov. 7,1961 T. MILLION 3,007,278

BooK HOLDER Filed Aug. s, 1959 INVENTOR. saooee L. M/L/o/ BY i rro NEX United States Patent Ofice 3,007,278 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 Santa Barbara, Calif. Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,326 8 Claims. (Cl. 45-85) The present invention relates to holders adapted to rest upon a table top, desk, or other suitable surface, and support written or printed matter in a position convenient Nfor reading, such as books, magazines, newspapers, or individual sheets. object of the invention is to provide a book holder, or the like, adapted to support reading matter in a position convenient for reading, and which is readily adjustable to accommodate different types and sizes of lreading matter, such as books, magazines, newspapers, and individual sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a book holder, or the like, which is adjustable to support different types of matter in a position convenient for reading,

and which is easily and rapidly folded to a comparatively flat and compact condition when not in use.

i A further object of the invention is to provide a book holder, or the like, which is adjustable to support different types of matter in a position convenient for reading, which is of strong and sturdy construction, and which is relatively inexpensive to produce.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be `described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is an isometric View illustrating a book supported on a book holder embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the book holder itself with its back portion adjusted to a different height than disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View of the book holder disclosed in FIG. 2, with its back adjusted to a different height than illustrated in FIGS. l and 3, and adapted to support specifically different reading matter than shown inA FIGS. l and 3'.

The book holder or rack A illustrated in the drawings includes spaced side members 10, 10, the rear parts of which are hingedly related to an adjustable back structure. 1-1 such that one of the side members can be folded against the back structure, and the other side member then folded upon the first-mentioned side member. These side members are movable from the ilat folded condition just described to an extended condition in which they areV disposed substantially at right angles to the back structure 11.

Each side member is made of a single piece of steel wire, or the like, and includes a lower foot or base portion 12 adapted to rest upon a table top, desk, or other supporting surface (not shown). The forward end of the base or foot portion merges into a forward diagonal rod portion 13 inclined in an upward and rearward direction. The upper end of this forward diagonal rod portion 13, in turn, merges into a downwardly extending forward arm portion 14 substantially parallel thereto, which merges into a curved or U-shaped base 15 extending from the forward arm portion in a rearward direction and which is integral with a diagonal book supporting rod member 16 inclined in an upward and rearward direction. The diagonal rod member 16 extends upwardly to a substantially greater extent than the forward `diagonal rod 13 and arm 14 and'merges at its upper end into an upper generally horizontal rod 17 projecting in a rearward direction. 'Ihe rear portion of the upper horizontal -rod merges into a depending leg 18 adapted to fit within a vertical elongate coupling strip 19. The rear of the lower foot or base portion 12 also merges into the lower portion of an upright 20 extending into the coupling strip 19, the upright being substantially coaxial with the leg 18.

Each coupling strip 19 is generally box-shaped in crosssection, such as disclosed most clearly in FIG. 4. It includes an outer base 21, the sides of which are integral with opposed curved webs 22 which, in turn, are integral with inner anges 23 extending toward each other and overlying the outer base 21. The coupling strip is, in effect, a flat tubular member having forward and rearward opposed pockets 24, 25 therein which are dened between each inner flange 23 and the outer base portion 21 of the strip. The depending leg 18 of a side member 10 is received within the upper portion of a forward pocket 24; whereas the upright 20 of the lower foot member 12 extends upwardly into the lower portion of the same forward pocket 24. To retain the side 10 assembled to the coupling strip 19, the upright 20 may terminate in a rearwardly bent finger 26 which extends into the rear pocket portion 25 of the coupling strip and engages its curved web 22.

Each side member 10 is connected to its Oompanion coupling strip 19 by inserting the lower upright 20 upwardly into the strip. The rear diagonal rodportion 16 and upper horizontal rod 17 can be deflected upwardly sufficiently to enable the depending leg 18 to be inserted into the upper end of the strip 19, whereupon the diagonal rod 16 will spring back to its original shape, in which the upper rod 17 is disposed substantially parallel to the lower foot 12.

The adjustable back structure 11 includes an upper member 27 and a lower member 28, both of which hold the coupling strips 19 and the sides 10 of the frame in spaced relation. The lowerV member 28 may be made of steel wire, or the like,` and includesY the lower` hori-v zontal rod portion 29 which merges into opposed uprights 30,y 30 that extend upwardly-within the rear pockets 25 of the Coupling strips. The insertion of' the upri'ghtsv 30 into the rear pockets 25 will confine the uprights 20 of the side members in the forward pocket portions 24V and provide frictional engagement4 between the side uprights 20 and rear uprghls 3.0, as well as. between. these uprights and the adjacent curved webs.22 of the coupling` upper member 27, which may also be made of steel wire, or the like, and which includes the upper cross rod or piece 31 which merges into depending legs 32, 32 tting in the upper portion of the rear pockets 25 of the coupling strips 19. When disposed in such portions, the rear legs 32 frictionally engage the depending legs 18 of the side members, as well as the rear webs 22 of the coupling strips, the side member legs also frictionally engaging the forward webs 22 of the coupling strips. Despite such frictional engagement of the legs 32 of the upper back member 27, the latter can be shifted vertically within the strips 19, so as to dispose the upper cross rod or member 31 at various heights above the lower cross rod 29, which is adapted to rest upon the supporting surface (not shown).

As disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper back member 27 is in its lowermost position within the coupling strips 19, which is a position suitable for the holder to retain certain sizes of books B in an open condition. The front and back covers 40, 41 of a book engage the rear diagonal rods 16 of the side members 10, whereas the spine 42 of the book may rest upon the upper cross rod 31 of the back. The open book and the lower portions of its pages 43 are received within the side pockets 44 formed between the forward and rearward diagonal arms or rods 14, 16, the forward arms 14 preventing the pages 43 of the open book from inadvertently shifting. While in the position disclosed, a person can readily read the book. When a page is to be turned, the book remains inthe rack, the page being turned easily by slipping it past one of the forward arms 14 and then past the arm 13 on the opposite side and into its associated pocket 44.

The holder A is capable of also retaining a newspaper N, or a relatively large magazine, or even a single typewritten sheet, or the like, in a position convenient for reading. The upper back member 27 of the device can be shifted upwardly within the coupling strips 19 to the desired extent, which, for example, may be to the extent illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. The newspaper N, typewritten sheet, or the like, is then inserted on the holder A, with its lower portion received within the side pockets 44 and with its upper portion resting against the upper cross rod 31. The particular matter supported by and in the holder will remain in a position convenient for reading by a person.

When the device is not in use, the upper back member 27 may be shifted downwardly within the coupling strips 19 to its maximum extent, whereupon the sides 10 and the strips 19 are swung inwardly toward the back structure 11, with one side overlying the other side. A very compact, folded book holder is thus provided which can be stored easily in a book or `any other suitable place.

When the book holder is to be used again, the sides 10, are merely unfolded, the strips 19 merely pivoting about the respective aligned axes of the lower back uprights 30 and the upper back legs 32, until the strips 19 and the sides 10 are substantially normal to the back structure 11, such as disclosed in the drawings. The upper `back member 27 can then be adjusted to the desired height, whereupon the holder is in condition for use by the reader.

The inventor claims:V

1. A book holder comprising spaced side members having forward pocket portions adapted to receive reading matter, a back structure secured to said side members and disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, said back structure including a lower portion and a vertically adjustable upper portion slidably mounted on said lower portion and adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter.

2. A book holder comprising spaced side members having forward pocket portions adapted to receive reading matter, a back structure secured to said side members and disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, Said back structure including a vertically adjustable upper portion adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter, and means pivotally relating said side members to said back structure, whereby said side members forwardly of said back structure can be folded toward each other and closely adjacent to said back structure and unfolded with respect thereto.

3. A book holder comprising spaced Wire side members, each side member including front and rear diagonal portions inclined in an upward and rearward direction and spaced from each other to provide a pocket to receive reading matter, generally vertical coupling strips receiving said side members and disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, a Wire back structure secured to said coupling structure and including an upper portion vertically adjustable in said coupling strips and adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter disposed in said pockets.

4. In a book holder: spaced wire side members, each side member including a lower foot portion, a rear upright integr-al with said foot portion, a forward portion integral with said foot portion, a forward diagonal arm integral with and depending from the upper end of said forward portion, the lower end of said arm merging into a base integral with a rear diagonal member extending upwardly substantially above said arm and forming a pocket therewith adapted to receive the lower portion of reading matter, an upper rod integral with the upper end of Said rear member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a depending leg integral with said upper rod; a vertical coupling strip for each side member; said upright extending upwardly into the lower portion of said strip and said leg extending downwardly into the upper portion of said strip; a lower wire back member including a base portion extending between said strips and uprights integral with opposite ends thereof and extending upwardly into the lower portions of said strips; and an upper wire back member including a cross portion integral with depending legs slidable in the upper portions of said coupling strips to vary the height of said crossportion, said cross-portion being adapted for engagement by the reading matter disposed in said pockets.

5. In a book holder as defined in claim 4; wherein said strips are swingable about the axes of said lower member uprights and upper member legs to fold said side mem- `bers adjacent to said upper and lower members and to unfold said side members therefrom.

6. A book holder comprising spaced side members having forward pocket portions adapted to receive reading matter iand substantially horizontal base portions adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a back structure secured to the rear of said base portions and extending upwardly therefrom, said back structure being disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, said back structure including a lower portion and a vertically adjustable upper portion slidably mounted on said lower portion and adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter.

7. A book holder comprising spaced side members having forward pocket portions adapted to receive reading 1 matter and substantially horizontal base portions adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a back strueture secured to the rear of said base portions and extending upwardly therefrom, said back structure being disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, said back structure including a lower portion and a vertically adjustable upper portion slidably mounted on said lower portion and adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter, and means pivotally relating said base portions to said back structure, whereby said side members forwardly of said back structure can be folded toward each other and closely adjacent to said back structure and unfolded with respect thereto.

8. A book holder comprising spaced wire side'members, each side member including front and rear diagonal' portions inclined in an upward and rearward direction and spaced from each other to provide pocket portions to receive reading matter, each side member further including a substantially horizontal base portion adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, generally vertical cou pling strips receiving said base portions and disposed substantially rearwardly of said pocket portions, a wire back structure secured to said coupling structure and including an upper portion vertically adjustable in said coupling strips and adapted to be engaged by and support the reading matter disposed in pocket portions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Savastano Nov. 23, 1948 

